Original Star Wars London Symphony Orchestra Trombone Section interviewed.

[PHOENIX 34]

With all the discussions over the upcoming Williams and LSO concert, here is a short article with interviews with the original trombone section that recorded Star Wars in 1977. Written for the British Trombone Society.

[Docteur Qui 1,544]

Interesting that the LSO had the dates for TFA "earmarked". So it was originally meant to be recorded with them? (can't wait for this can of worms to be opened up again)

[crumbs 14,313]

Weird, considering the LA record was JW's only caveat to signing on.

 

Was the original plan for the LSO to record in the US? Or did Disney begin making plans with the LSO before Williams signed on, assuming he'd continue tradition by recording in London?

[TownerFan 4,983]

The original plan was to record in London with JW conducting the LSO (they even booked Abbey Road Studios). Plans then were scrapped for a variety of reasons. Also, it seems AFM made a lot of pressure to keep the recording in LA.

[crumbs 14,313]

Interesting! So was JW just simplifying when he said his only caveat to JJ about scoring the film was an LA record? He's contradicted that story a few times, notably when telling the LSO that JJ's weird editing style necessitated a prolonged recording schedule, making a London/LSO record impossible.

 

TLJ had a more conventional spotting process (JW saw a complete rough cut rather than isolated reels as in TFA) but they retained TFA's prolonged recording schedule, so...?

 

The likely explanation is that Kennedy had the clout to allow this "luxurious" process for Williams, which benefitted both the filmmakers (as they could hear the score progressively and revise the cut throughout post-production) and the composer (as Williams could spend weeks writing his revisions, rather than rush them overnight, which a London/LSO record would've necessitated). That probably explains why Williams hasn't just written the complete scores and recorded everything once finished, like all the other SW films.

[TownerFan 4,983]

I don't know the details, but it's more than likely that several factors contributed to schedules being reshuffled before the final recording location was settled. I'm sure they gave JW all the time he needed on both TFA and TLJ.